Page 42 of The Coffee Shop

“Nine,” I say quickly. Not that I can’t handle a larger weapon, but I can certainly run faster with somethingsmaller.

Luke hands me a holster, the weapon already in it, and I strap it around my waist quickly, then fill my pockets with extra magazines.

As Luke and Sebastian move towards the front windows to set up their shots, I stand in the middle of the house.

A surreal and numbing feeling washes over me.

I look at the hideous couch and the pink floral wallpaper. At all of the tiny trinkets on the shelves. I gaze into the living room, to the crocheted blanket that’s on the floor, along with some discarded clothing. I think about the reason for them being there and smile. I look at the yarn and knitting needles strewn across the coffee table, at the scarves we will never finish.

“Leena, get behind the couch,” Sebastian says, snapping me out of my reverie. “Stay down and stay quiet, but be ready to move. As soon as we clear a path, we head for the car.”

“Why don’t we head for the car now?” I ask.

“The road’s too narrow. We wouldn’t be able to get past them and that’s the only way out of here. That is, unless you feel like walking,” Sebastian explains.

“Well this isn’t a verysafesafehouse,” I mumble.

“Well we weren’t supposed to have company. This was ababysittinggig, remember?” Luke chuckles, then winks at me and it’s comforting to see how calm they’re both being about this.

Then I hear the cars approaching and duck behind the couch. I pull out my weapon, check that the magazine is full and pull back the slide to load it.

Car doors slam, voices shout and the sudden onslaught of automatic fire has my ears ringing. Thewindows in the living room shatter, and I hear the sound of bullets hitting the side of the house. More glass breaks outside, then a car alarm goes off, joining the fray.

I don’t know how long I sit here, listening to every bit of the commotion with growing horror.

“Three are heading around back,” Luke shouts over the noise.

“I see them. Ten-o-clock,” Sebastian replies, then more shots are fired.

The relief I have hearing their voices, knowing they are ok is quickly replaced with the realization that we need to get out of here.

“Got ‘em. Alright, Leena, let’s move!” Luke says and I jump up just as Sebastian throws open the door. His weapon is tight against his thick shoulder as he sweeps it across the path then moves forward, his steps deliberate. He is still wearing his basketball shorts and running shoes, which seem a bit out of place in this situation. If I wasn’t so terrified, I would probably laugh.

I follow him out onto the front porch, my gun pointed down as my own eyes search for anything that moves. Luke is close behind me, carrying the bag of weapons, and the three of us make our way quickly down the steps and head for the car.

“Leena, don’t look,” Luke warns, but it’s too late.

The driveway is full of dead bodies, the ground splattered with their blood and… I can’t even think about what else. The smell immediately assaults my nose and I feel the blood drain from my face. My stomach turns. I swallow back the bile, forcing myself to keep moving forward.

When the three of us are inside the car and the engine of the SUV roars to life, I hear the shouts ofthe remaining men, then look back to see them running around the side of the house, their weapons raised.

“Hold on, sugar,” Sebastian drawls, then stomps on the gas, quickly whipping the car around, the gravel flying, before sending us careening down the dirt road.

Chapter Twenty-One

SEBASTIAN

After explaining to the nice gentlemen at the front desk for the fourth time that yes, I was sure a single king bed would be fine for all three of us, he finally hands over the room key.

“Thank fuck that’s over,” I say once we get outside. Leena giggles and I glare at her, but then my expression quickly softens.

I guess it was kinda funny.

I’m sure our outfits didn’t help the matter, seeing as how Luke and I left the house in nothing but kevlar and basketball shorts. Thankfully, we had some sweaters in the car, so at least we aren’t half naked right now. Leena is still wearing Luke’s sweatpants, which are practically hers at this point, and one of my T-shirts. She looks adorable, but with the waistband rolled multiple times to fit and the shirt tied in a knot, it is very obvious that those aren’t her clothes.

As we’re about to head towards our room, a car drives up next to us and I’m immediately on guard, tucking Leena behind me.

“Oh calm down, tough guy,” Lukes says, approaching the vehicle.

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